It is hard to believe that a cool classic pickup like this 1959 Chevrolet Apache could be left to sit forgotten in a barn in Montana for more than 35-years, but it is the truth. It has now been dragged out into the light of day, and after a lot of hard work and not inconsiderable expense, it has been returned to a roadworthy state once again. This is a vehicle that is absolutely loaded with character, and it is a blank canvas for the next owner. They might choose to complete the full restoration process, or choose to leave it essentially untouched. Regardless of which path they eventually choose to follow, they will find the Apache located in Frankfort, Illinois, and listed for sale here on eBay. The bidding has reached $3,900, and with the reserve now met, this is one old pickup that is destined to head to a new home.

It is really hard not to love a vehicle like this one because it wears its age like a badge of honor. The Turquoise paint is worn and baked, and I even like the fact that nobody has made the effort to fix the hole in the hood where the vehicle was accidentally shot at one point! It does have the typical sorts of rust that you will see in an Apache of this vintage, including some in the bottoms of the fenders, and in the lower cab corners. The great thing about this type of rust is that because it is so common, patch panels are now readily available to address the problems. The panels look nice and straight, with no significant dings or dents. The majority of the glass looks like it might be in good condition, although the windshield and passenger-side vent glass are both badly cracked, and will need to be replaced. The Chevy rolls on the factory optional 16″ steel wheels. These have been sandblasted and freshly powder-coated. They have also been fitted with new tires and new hubcaps. The timber in the bed is said to be original, and while it is essentially solid, there are some areas of deterioration. Regardless of whether or not the next owner is planning on undertaking a full restoration, replacing the timber would probably be a wise course of action.

The generally weathered exterior of the Apache means that lifting the hood provides a pretty big surprise. What you will find is the 235ci 6-cylinder engine, which is backed by a 4-speed manual transmission. After sitting for close to four decades, the vehicle needed a lot of work to return it to a roadworthy state. The owner really pushed the boat out on this, and all I can say is that it must have cost a pretty penny to get the vehicle to its current state. It appears that the engine has been pulled, the cylinder head has been rebuilt, and the whole engine has been detailed within an inch of its life. In addition, the engine has received a new water pump, new generator, new starter, new thermostat, all new belts, and hoses, while the carburetor was also rebuilt. The entire braking system, from the master cylinder through to the wheel cylinders, shoes, drums, and hoses, has been replaced. The fuel tank and sending unit have also been replaced, along with the fuel pump and fuel filter. The suspension was checked from top to bottom to ensure that there were no issues, and the rest of the drivetrain was gone through, with any suspect gaskets being replaced. Phew, that’s quite a list, and believe it or not, that isn’t everything! The owner says that the Apache is now in a running, driving state, and given the scope of the work that has been undertaken so far, I would expect that it probably performs both of those tasks quite well.

As is the case with the exterior, the interior of the Apache is showing all of the signs of a hard life. The big issue is the seat, which is missing padding and also needs a new cover. It would be possible to replace the padding and then cover it with a blanket, but that is a matter of personal choice. The radio is also missing, leaving a hole in the dash, while the heater core will need to be replaced, as it does leak. In reality, fixing the seat would be a priority before the Chevy could be driven any distance with anything vaguely resembling comfort. Everything else comes under the heading of non-urgent and could be fixed as time and circumstances allow.

I love old pickups like this ’59 Apache because they are vehicles with so much character. With the amount of mechanical work that has already been completed, I would fully understand it if the next owner would want to complete the process by treating it to a cosmetic restoration. Equally, I would understand if they wanted to simply fix the seat, and then head out and enjoy this old classic basically untouched. I’d be very tempted to treat the interior to a full and meticulous restoration, replace the timber in the bed, treat the existing rust to ensure that it can’t deteriorate any further, and then drive and enjoy it largely as-is. Of course, that’s all theory, because I’m not actually buying it. The big question is, will you?